Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro

Christ the Redeemer

Rio de Janeiro

Christ the Redeemer is one of the world’s most iconic symbols of peace and protection. Overlooking the stunning tropical city and beaches of Rio de Janeiro, this timeless monument has amazed visitors from all over the world for more than 80 years. In 2000, a not-for-profit organization began a multi-million dollar project to restore the soapstone statue and improve the surrounding facilities circling the monument.

The investment from the Roberto Marinho Foundation found Otis as its prime solution to improving the access to the summit of the religious statue. Otis developed a system that used revolutionary design and engineering to bring everyone to the summit - the Gen2 elevator. Since Otis completed the enhancements over a decade ago, millions of visitors have been able to access one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Before the Gen2 system was installed atop the Corcovado mountain, people had no choice but to climb 220 steep steps in order to reach the summit of the famous monument. The Gen2 system is the first of its kind to use flat, polyurethane-coated steel belts to lift the elevator car. This design and engineering feat not only requires minimal energy consumption, but its safety and efficiency protects the environment and provides state-of-the-art elevation services for Christ the Redeemer’s visitors.

The Gen2 system needs no lubrication which eliminates the chance of oil spills, whilst its permanent magnet (PM) machine technology reduces energy consumption by as much as 40 percent. This is particularly crucial in Brazil where energy consumption has to be rationed. The low level of noise from the Gen2 system maintains the tranquillity of the mountaintop, whilst allowing many people to access the panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro with ease and speed.

3

Panoramic elevators

13

Passengers per elevator car

9000

Passengers per hour

770k+

Visitors per year

Creating the monument

The statue was designed by French sculptor Paul Landowski and built by the Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, in collaboration with the French engineer Albert Caquot. The Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida gained worldwide fame for sculpting the face of Christ.

Preserving the monument

Over the decades, the monument has suffered damage from the elements, including a lighting strike in 2008 that caused some damage to the fingers, head and eyebrows. Lightning struck again in 2010, dislodging a finger on the right hand.
In 2010, massive restoration began. Work included cleaning, replacing the mortar and soapstone on the exterior, restoring iron in the internal structure and waterproofing the monument.

Quick facts about Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro

The cultural origins of this stunning statue present the strong catholic culture of Brazil, while the Art Deco design models the wondrous era of its inauguration.

Its design was influenced across nationalities. It was created by French sculptor Paul Landowski, built by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and French engineer Albert Caquot, while Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida sculpted the face.

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